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North Korea reopening nuclear reactor raises concerns

North Korea reopening nuclear reactor raises many concerns - Photo 1.

North Korea’s new move raises concerns about nuclear weapons (Image: Getty Images)

Satellite images taken by Maxar in April and May 2022 show that North Korea has restarted construction of the second reactor of the Yongbyon nuclear complex. According to experts at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, who analyzed the photos, the site has been inactive for many years.

The reactor is about 10 times larger than the first one at Yongbyon, which has been in operation since the 1980s.

According to CNN’s source, US officials say they are aware of the incident and are monitoring it closely. They also note that Pyongyang appears to have no intention of concealing the resumption of construction work.

The source added that this could be a demonstration of North Korea’s nuclear progress and ambitions in the future. The construction of a new reactor at Yongbyon is also in line with the country’s goal of becoming a nuclear armed state.

According to experts, it is difficult to estimate how long North Korea will complete the construction of the reactor. However, according to Jeffrey Lewis, a weapons expert and professor at the Middlebury Institute, this would be a significant step forward for Pyongyang. Mr. Lewis argued that the new reactor would increase North Korea’s plutonium output by a factor of 10.

According to Lewis, recent satellite images are “the first clear sign that North Korea is gradually completing the reactor”.

“In the April 20 image, we can see construction equipment, including some pipes. By May 7, North Korea had buried the pipeline,” he said.

Lewis also pointed out that North Korea halted construction of the Yongbyon nuclear reactor in 1994 as part of an agreement with the United States. At that point, the reactor was still years away from completion.

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